Toto and the King of Rome

Toto and the King of Rome
(Totò e i re di Roma)
Directed by Mario Monicelli
Steno
Produced by Romolo Laurenti
Written by Mario Monicelli
Steno
Ennio De Concini
Dino Risi
Peppino De Filippo (from Anton Chekhov's tales)
Starring Totò
Music by Nino Rota
Cinematography Giuseppe La Torre
Distributed by Titanus
Release date
 1951
Running time
 104 minutes
Country Italy
Language Italian

Toto and the King of Rome (Italian: Totò e i re di Roma) is a 1951 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli and Steno.[1]

Plot

The film's title alludes playfully to the politicians who rule the town of Rome, since the laws that are in their favor and the tricks that make for years to stay in office. In fact the whole film as a kind of political satire and Italy was also censored.
Hercules Pappalardo is an archivist who is forced to do anything not to lose his job. In fact, some of his colleagues take the dirtiest means for groped to pander to their manager, and Hercules is one of them. Hercules deeply hate Italian politics since according to him is wrong and does not provide any benefit for people in difficulties and may lose the place as him. His troubles begin when by mistake, according to a theatrical show in the gallery, sneezes the head to his audience that the director begins to not take it anymore. Since then, the career of Hercules is in real danger and the only way to save is to do the lick just like his colleagues. Among these is a particularly slimy and cunning (Alberto Sordi) to obtain a seat on the upper floors with its subterfuge that also puts him to persecute the poor Hercules. In fact, during that time, Mr. Pappalardo had been entrusted with the task of recovering its director for a parrot that had endured the World War II, but that he had accidentally killed by a shot fired from a bottle cap of champagne. As if all the problems were not enough to Hercules addition, there is also a new one, because the pimp Palocco (Sordi) finds out that Hercules did the exam for primary school, and so Pappalado is forced to study again for to continue his work. The directors of the office trying to pass Hercules turning a blind eye to the cause, but the cruel Palocco comes at the last moment. Here is an example of political satire and as a result of censorship: a Hercules is asked the name of an elephant and he, not knowing what it was that kind replies, De Gasperi (the name of the political Alcide De Gasperi. After the complaint, the scene is redubbed and Hercules replied: Bartali (the cyclist Gino Bartali). Hercules is rejected and so hopes to communicate only in death his wife play the numbers on the ticket lottery. Fortunately Hercules dies and finds himself to wait in the office of the High Pines to gain access to Paradise. Having waited so long for the overcrowding of divine offices, God summons Hercules and would punish him for the gesture he made. Yet when he discovers that he has worked for thirty years in the archives of the Ministry without ever being noticed and praised for what he has done with some increase in salary or grade, sends him in Paradise.

Cast

References

  1. ↑ "Totò e i re di Roma". mymovies.it. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
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